Genetic characterization of Entamoeba dispar isolates in Northeast Brazil

The genetic variability of Entamoeba dispar strains was investigated in 39 positive isolates on a survey of 1783 individuals from two different cities of Northeast Brazil (Recife and Macaparana) using two polymorphic species-specific loci (loci 1-2 and 5-6). A combinatory clustering analysis revealed no geographical correlation and remarkable genetic polymorphism among all the isolates examined. Nevertheless, a comparison of the frequency of eight individual PCR products, shared by both Recife and Macaparana populations, for the two loci, showed that only one product of locus 5-6 was significantly different between the two cities. These results suggested that the Macaparana population is infected by similar strains and that locus 5-6 shows potential in assaying questions related to the molecular epidemiology of this region.